Cross brace and method of making same



l. D. ROHN 2,846,760

cRoss BRACE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Aug., 12, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 23. 1955 "I 1 m m hi 1 lily wl m "up n um i "in IZYFEIZfUF I VAN .Dw/awr Fay/v Aug. 12, 1958 1. D. ROHN CROSS BRACE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 23. 1955 Pall V United States PatentO CROSS BRACE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Ivan Dwight Rohn, Peoria, Ill.

Application August 23, 1955, Serial No. 530,173

1 Claim. 7 (Cl. 29-1935) This invention relates generally to a cross brace blank construction and the method of making same.

Due to the increase in public demand for antenna towers and the like, manufacturers have been directing their attention to improving former tower constructions.

The present invention embodies an improved light weight cross brace blank construction for use with a sectional tower or the like and is a continuation in part of my earlier filed case entitled Tower Construction, filed lune 23, 1954, Serial No. 438,677.

More specifically, this invention relates to a cross brace blank construction which may be stamped and formed to shape in a single operation to provide a continuous transverse strap or brace for a multi-leg tower. The method and apparatus disclosed herein shows how slight variations in the dies may be made in order to provide the variable lengths of cross brace blanks required for a tapering tower construction.

The instant cross brace blank construction particularly lends itself to being used in the process disclosed in my copending case entitled Method and Apparatus for Assembling Cross Braces on a Multi-Leg Tower, filed July 26, 1955, Serial No. 524,345, wherein flat portions on the eight cross brace blanks may be simultaneously joined with a leg at one time to the end of forming a multi-leg tower section.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a new and improved cross brace blank construction of durable reinforced construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved method of making same.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved cross brace blank construction which lends itself to economical manufacture on a large production scale.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cross brace blank construction which readily lends itself to being either machine or manually assembled onto the legs making up a tower or tower section.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for making a cross brace blank capable of slight variation in order to accommodate the variations in lengths of blanks required for a tapering tower construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a continuous cross brace blank construction which may be assembled on the tower as a unit as opposed to broken brace constructions now commonly employed.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the strip of material utilized in the formation of my novel cross brace blank;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a formed cross brace blank;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the stacked tower sections having my novel cross braces thereon;

2,846,760 Patented Aug. 12, 1958 Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line IVIV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the dies utilized in forming my novel cross brace blanks with a formed blank shown in the lower die;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the lower die member shown in Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a transverse fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the manner in which a reinforcing longitudinal channel is formed in the blank.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally my novel die apparatus (Figure 5) which is capable of stamping a metal strip 11 of substantially uniform width and cross section as is shown in Figure 1 into a cross brace blank or strip (Figure 2) and in so doing utilizing all of the metal of the strip without waste. The cross brace blank or strap is adapted for disposition on a tower section 13 of a tripodal multi-sectioned tower construction such as is seen in Figures 3 and 4. The strap 12 in a completed state comprises a continuous band capable of holding longitudinal elements or tubular legs or rods 15 on, for example, each tower section 13 in a predetermined relation with respect to the other legs.

The strap 12 includes spaced intermediate generally flat areas 16 for embracing the legs 15 separated from each other and from arcuate ends 17 and 18 of the strap by flanged portions 19 of lesser widths than that of said areas. The flange portions 19 are formed so as to have an arcuate portion 20 defining a longitudinal channel 21. The arcuate portions 20 are connected on opposite transverse sides to longitudinally extending reinforcing shoulders 22 including depending angled reinforcing flanges 23 and 24 with lateral flange 24 being turned under at substantially right angles to flange 23 and the medial plane of the strap terminating in edges 25.

Ends 17 and 18 of the strap are each formed into curved areas 26 and 27 of the width of the original strap, and combined together, serve in the same manner as the flat areas 16 for joint coaction with an element or leg 15.

In view of the foregoing it will now be appreciated how a cross brace strap may be made in which all of the metal of the original strip is utilized. This strap construction is highly advantageous since individual cross braces need not be made for bracing pairs of spaced legs all to the end of reducing costs and facilitating the mass producing of the article.

While the strap of the instant invention has been shown in use with a tripodal multi-section tower construction it will be appreciated that the tower need not be tripodal or sectioned or even used with a tower since other uses are foreseeable with for example metal furniture and the like.

The following discussion is directed to the method and apparatus aspects of the present invention.

The novel die apparatus 10 includes an upper male die member 28 and a lower female die member 29. The upper male die member 28 includes three separate types of segments, namely, end male segment 30, variable male segment 31 and intermediate male segment 32. Each of the above segments are suitably secured to a plate 33 which is in turn connected to the rams (not shown).

The lower female member 29 also includes three separate types of segments, namely end female segment 34, variable female segment 35 and intermediate female segment 36. Each of the above segments are also suitably attached to a plate 37 which is carried upon a supporting platform or the like (not shown).

End male segment 30 includes a main block 38 provided with a recessed area 39 in which is carried a transverse rod 40 attached to wall 41 of the block 38.

The end female segment 34 is adapted to cooperate 31 and 35 which may be, removedifrom time to-time as I occasionmecessitates-in order to allow the-substitution of a longer or shorter segment asthe case demands;

As-is best seen in Figuresand 7,'segment 31 includes a. main blockj44 havingattached on each 'transverse pe-.

ripheral surface, extensions 45 which extendwverticallyv below lower surface 46 of the-block.44.- Surface 46 is longitudinally recessed at 47- to carry therein a longitudinally extending. rod 548.;

Female segment -35 includes .a; block 49 which is of aslightly: smaller-transverse dimension than block 14 and has therein a longitudinal recess capable ofv mating with-rod\48f In'operation, the upper male member 31 collapses and-bends the outer. longitudinal margin of the strip..11- over the reduced sized-block49 to form reinforcingflanges 24 while at thev same time forming the reinforcing arcuate-portionsr-(Figure 6) and the reinforcing shoulders 22..

Intermediate. male and female: segments 32 and 36 cooperate together to form the spaced intermediate flat areas 16 for embracing the legs.

Upper male segment32 includesa main block 51 having aa transverse recess.52.with two transverse rods 53 carried upon indented wall 54 of the block 51..

Lower female segment'36 includes a main block 55 and a recess 56fcapable of. mated cooperation with the rods 53.

In the methodtof forming a cross brace or strap the metal'strip 11 is laid upon the lower die member 29 and properly longitudinally and-transversely aligned with respect to the die segments by aligning and sliding the strip between end stops .57 against rear stops 58. The die members are then mated thereby forming the cross brace or strap 12..

In the assembly of the rod, the flat portions 16 are deformed about the legs 15 and may be welded at the the strap and legs. Arcuate ends 26 and 27 are then aligned end to end with another leg 15 and welded thereto at their junction.

While the illustrated legs are of a circular cross section it will be appreciated that slight variations in the dies may be made in orderto provide a strap having portions cooperable with differently cross sectioned legs.

From the foregoing it is now apparent how a'reinforced cross brace or strap. of predetermined-varying dimension may be readily and economically manufactured with a minimum of cost was to provide a strap which is'capable of easy assembly on-a tower or the like. The instant strap construction in being continuous in length may be completely Wrapped around the assembly to be braced and attached thereto with a minimum of connections.

I claim as my invention:

As an articleof. manufacture, a bendable transverse strap, for spacing and holding together a plurality of longitudinal tower-posts, comprising a single metal stamping made of I a strip of substantially uniform widthand thickness, said stamping including a series of longitudinallyspaced intermediate fiat areas; each being bendable and of a lengthto engage transversely around'a substan tialportionof a post, laterally flanged portions between said areas and ends of the stamping for rigidifying and strengthening the strap, and end portions'each of arcuate cross-section ina longitudinal direction such that, uponbending of the. strap aroundthe tower posts, said endportions' will align witheach other around a post, forsecurement. thereto, contemporaneously with the bending ofzsaid flat areasaround other posts.

References Cited'inthe file of this .patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

